A BART train at the Powell St. station. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)A BART train at the Powell St. station. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $45.7 million in transit related grants for the Bay Area on Monday.

Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan of the Federal Transportation Administration came to San Francisco bearing gifts for transit agencies throughout the region. The grants include money for San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Monterey counties to replace some old diesel buses.

“They’re being replaced by clean, fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles that also improves the beautiful environment we all love and respect,” McMillan said.

KCBS’ Barbara Taylor Reports:

AC Transit will receive $7.5 million to improve fare collection and BART will get about $3 million to improve departure and arrival information.

Tom Radulovich of the BART Board of Directors said the improvements are key for all transit users.

“Real-time transit information is a fantastic way of taking the two dozen transit systems that we have in the region and making them function for the riders as one system,” Radulovich said.

The Bay Area’s share is part of a greater $787 million nationwide transit appropriation.

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